POLICY FORMULATION IN AFRICA: A POLICY FORMULATION IN AFRICA: A REGIONAL OVERVIEW AND REGIONAL OVERVIEW AND

COUNTRY CASE STUDY ON EGYPTCOUNTRY CASE STUDY ON EGYPT

Prof. Nadia HegaziProf. Nadia HegaziConsultant to Minister of ICTConsultant to Minister of ICT

Consultant to Minister of EducationConsultant to Minister of Education March 2004March 2004

The Main Concern is:The Main Concern is:

To create and activate the knowledge economy To create and activate the knowledge economy focused on extending Internet connectivity in the focused on extending Internet connectivity in the African states.African states.

To generate growth through translating To generate growth through translating connectivity into economic activities stimulating connectivity into economic activities stimulating services, applications and content that create new services, applications and content that create new markets and reduce costs and eventually increase markets and reduce costs and eventually increase productivity throughout the economy. productivity throughout the economy.

Collaboate previous efforts and presenting Collaboate previous efforts and presenting guidelines for critical areasguidelines for critical areas

Aspects of the African Information Aspects of the African Information Society Society

Capacity Building, human resource development, education and training.

E-Government and serving the citizens.

Cultural Diversity and Supporting Multilingual Content.

Aspects of African Information SocietyAspects of African Information Society Cont’dCont’d

Building a regional information Building a regional information infrastructure and info-structureinfrastructure and info-structure

Trade, Commerce, research and Trade, Commerce, research and development and Piracy in ICT.development and Piracy in ICT.

Security Issues.Security Issues.

Suggested Strategies and PoliciesSuggested Strategies and Policies To achieve a real information society, governments need to To achieve a real information society, governments need to

develop and implement regional policies that:develop and implement regional policies that: Access: by making information,

communication, and their underlying technologies central to the development of the region.

Awareness: by making information, communication, and their underlying technologies known, available to and accessible by the public,

Strategies and Policies: Cont’dStrategies and Policies: Cont’d Using of not only innovative private-public

partnerships between government and the private sector but also partnerships with civil society and nongovernmental organizations;

E-Learning:E-Learning: Promote ICT education in schools and Promote ICT education in schools and universities and ICT skills training in the universities and ICT skills training in the workplace. workplace.

Establishing a Establishing a benchmark, using relevant, realistic benchmark, using relevant, realistic indicatorsindicators

Strategies and Policies: Cont’dStrategies and Policies: Cont’d

E-Government:E-Government: Ensure Governments’ Ensure Governments’ understanding and use of ICT at all levels to understanding and use of ICT at all levels to promote efficiency and transparency and promote efficiency and transparency and provide cost-effective ICT-based information provide cost-effective ICT-based information services to citizens.services to citizens.

Ensure that best practices are followed and Ensure that best practices are followed and

ICT experiences are exchanged horizontallyICT experiences are exchanged horizontally across countries within African states and across countries within African states and with the international ICT community.with the international ICT community.

Regional Policies: Cont’dRegional Policies: Cont’d

Ensure adequate planning of infrastructure Ensure adequate planning of infrastructure to enable the region to embrace new to enable the region to embrace new communication modalities.communication modalities.

Actively develop information systems to Actively develop information systems to enhance health services and to foster enhance health services and to foster employment, economic growth, and rural employment, economic growth, and rural development by the year 2010.development by the year 2010.

Regional Policies: Cont’dRegional Policies: Cont’d

Fostering the creation of an environment Fostering the creation of an environment that will allow, by the year 2008, the that will allow, by the year 2008, the capacity to trade goods and services by capacity to trade goods and services by electronic means (e-commerce), electronic means (e-commerce),

Provide, through a competitive market Provide, through a competitive market environment, universal access to environment, universal access to information and communication facilities, information and communication facilities,

The opportunityThe opportunity

The information society is an excellent The information society is an excellent chance for :chance for :

Developing other sectorsDeveloping other sectors Developing an ICT sector by itselfDeveloping an ICT sector by itself Socio economic developmentSocio economic development

Urgency of Regional IntegrationUrgency of Regional Integration

Regional integration is believed to be Regional integration is believed to be an essential condition to cut down on an essential condition to cut down on the cost of ICT services and provide the cost of ICT services and provide better securitybetter security

Urgency of Regional IntegrationUrgency of Regional Integration

Creating Regional Network:Creating Regional Network:

This network is based on centers to transfer data, This network is based on centers to transfer data, and focal Internet exchanges in the region. Such and focal Internet exchanges in the region. Such centers are the corner stones and base of this centers are the corner stones and base of this network.network.

Data centers and exchanges require fast Data centers and exchanges require fast connecting lines of fiber optics to link such points connecting lines of fiber optics to link such points together.together.

Urgency of Regional Integration: Urgency of Regional Integration: Cont’dCont’d

This regional network is connected, on one This regional network is connected, on one hand, with corresponding ones in other hand, with corresponding ones in other regions (such as Europe, Asia, and others)regions (such as Europe, Asia, and others)

On the other hand, this network is On the other hand, this network is connected with national networks of the connected with national networks of the region. region.

Urgency of Regional Integration: Urgency of Regional Integration: Cont’dCont’d

The African Network will make use of innovations The African Network will make use of innovations such as wireless fidelity commonly known as Wi-such as wireless fidelity commonly known as Wi-Fi and other low cost technologies and business Fi and other low cost technologies and business models.models.

African states should make use of the existing African states should make use of the existing fiber optics network in the region to establish fiber optics network in the region to establish regional backbone.regional backbone.

The e-africa Commission is running a project to The e-africa Commission is running a project to have the sea cable in the east coast ready for 2005 have the sea cable in the east coast ready for 2005

Building a Regional Information Building a Regional Information Infrastructure and Info-structureInfrastructure and Info-structure

Bulk purchase of International bandwidth to Bulk purchase of International bandwidth to reduce cost of internet connectivity to the reduce cost of internet connectivity to the international backbone through coordination with international backbone through coordination with the e-Africa commission.the e-Africa commission.

Establishing own data centers or will set peering Establishing own data centers or will set peering agreements with the existing data centers in the agreements with the existing data centers in the region, thus preventing regional communication region, thus preventing regional communication from passing into other regionsfrom passing into other regions

Building a Regional Information Building a Regional Information Infrastructure and Info-structureInfrastructure and Info-structure

Finalize the establishment of AfriNIC the Finalize the establishment of AfriNIC the African address registry.African address registry.

Encourage e-business and content Encourage e-business and content development to achieve a fair formula for development to achieve a fair formula for payment for internet connection which payment for internet connection which should only be based on half a circuit and should only be based on half a circuit and not both circuits in country and in not both circuits in country and in termination country.termination country.

Building a Regional Information Building a Regional Information Infrastructure and Info-structureInfrastructure and Info-structure

The Top level domain "Africa" should be The Top level domain "Africa" should be delegated to e-Africa Commission.delegated to e-Africa Commission.

Support the operation of a root server in Africa as Support the operation of a root server in Africa as part of e-Africa to participate in all aspects of the part of e-Africa to participate in all aspects of the Internet.Internet.

Promote the establishment of Uniform Domain Promote the establishment of Uniform Domain name dispute-Resolution policy UDRP service to name dispute-Resolution policy UDRP service to provide for Internet domain names disputed in provide for Internet domain names disputed in AfricaAfrica

Create a regulator consortium through a formal Create a regulator consortium through a formal organization such as NEPAD with the help of the organization such as NEPAD with the help of the e-Africa Commissione-Africa Commission

Capacity Building: Human Capacity Building: Human Resources Development, Education, Resources Development, Education,

and Training.and Training. Priority must be given to Priority must be given to Training the TrainersTraining the Trainers in order to in order to

ensure the long-term impact in this area as well as hands-ensure the long-term impact in this area as well as hands-on training, especially for women and young professionals on training, especially for women and young professionals in developing countries.in developing countries.

Training of regulatorsTraining of regulators The provision of support for the production and The provision of support for the production and

distribution of multimedia, modular training course distribution of multimedia, modular training course materials and information processing tools, based on the materials and information processing tools, based on the model of open source software.model of open source software.

Run a survey of supply and demand for e-skills and make Run a survey of supply and demand for e-skills and make it public on the information portal to be establishedit public on the information portal to be established

Encourage the establishment of the African Diaspora Encourage the establishment of the African Diaspora NetworkNetwork

Illiteracy EradicationIlliteracy Eradication Ensure that a renewed, concerted effort is made to Ensure that a renewed, concerted effort is made to

tackle and substantially reduce illiteracy by the tackle and substantially reduce illiteracy by the year 2008, using all available methods and media, year 2008, using all available methods and media, including television and leveraging on the including television and leveraging on the investment made on community telecentres;investment made on community telecentres;

The use of ICT should be dedicated to illiteracy The use of ICT should be dedicated to illiteracy eradication. Technologies such as CD Rom, radio eradication. Technologies such as CD Rom, radio and TV or a mix of them can be combined with the and TV or a mix of them can be combined with the Internet to extend its reach. Radio can be used as a Internet to extend its reach. Radio can be used as a gateway to the Internet for its listeners in remote gateway to the Internet for its listeners in remote rural communitiesrural communities

Egyptian model forEgyptian model forAffordable PCs and accessAffordable PCs and access

Free internetFree internet Affordable PCsAffordable PCs IT CLUBSIT CLUBS

4.7 million new lines since October 1999

11.1 million8.5 millionmillion

3.03.54.04.55.05.56.06.57.07.58.08.59.09.5

10.010.511.0

96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 Sept.

2003

No. of subscribers

No. of fixed lines

No.

of

sub

scri

bers

, mil

lion

The number of subscribers increased more than eight folds since October 1999

0.080.93

2.35

3.44

4.50

5.42

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Sept.

2003

0.30.6

1

1.7

2.4

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.61.8

22.22.42.6

1999 2000 2001 2002 Sept. 2003

International internet traffic increased from20 Mb/s to 900 Mb/s in 2 years

No.

of

Inte

rnet

Use

rs

Million

1202

1791

27373015

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1999 2000 2001 2002

Capital Investment

mil

lio

n L

.E

Source: The General Authority For Investment & Free Zones

Transforming ARENTO into Telecom Egypt by law 19 for the year 1998.Transforming ARENTO into Telecom Egypt by law 19 for the year 1998.

Establishment of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority by presidential Establishment of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority by presidential decree number 101 for the year 1998.decree number 101 for the year 1998.

A new telecommunications law that promotes:A new telecommunications law that promotes: Transparency in licensing. Transparency in licensing. Phased deregulation of services. Phased deregulation of services. Establishment of a universal fund to accelerate tariff rebalance.Establishment of a universal fund to accelerate tariff rebalance.

Establishing E-Government systems Establishing E-Government systems and providing E-Government and providing E-Government

services services Setup a Regional E-government Institute to foster Setup a Regional E-government Institute to foster

and promote e-government, provide advice and and promote e-government, provide advice and conduct research. The Institute will adopt a conduct research. The Institute will adopt a multidimensional approach to e-government, multidimensional approach to e-government, addressing its legal, technological (ICT) and addressing its legal, technological (ICT) and administrative aspects, and focus on policies and administrative aspects, and focus on policies and processes necessary to deploy e-government processes necessary to deploy e-government services. The Institute should be operative by the services. The Institute should be operative by the year 2006.year 2006.

Conduct regional training of decision makers to enable a Conduct regional training of decision makers to enable a better understanding the dynamics of e-government;better understanding the dynamics of e-government;

Trade and commerce in the Information SocietyTrade and commerce in the Information Society

The implementation of a regional root Certificate of The implementation of a regional root Certificate of Authority (CoA);Authority (CoA);

Multilateral and/or bilateral agreements on electronic Multilateral and/or bilateral agreements on electronic commerce and trade;commerce and trade;

Facilitation of regional transport and shipping Facilitation of regional transport and shipping mechanisms to accelerate the movement of goods; and mechanisms to accelerate the movement of goods; and most importantly,most importantly,

The adoption of uniform legislations to protect the rights The adoption of uniform legislations to protect the rights of the consumers and operators and establish policies and of the consumers and operators and establish policies and guidelines for electronic commerce.guidelines for electronic commerce.

The African states with their rich culture and history The African states with their rich culture and history should invest in e-services and offer user friendly public should invest in e-services and offer user friendly public information for culture and tourism.information for culture and tourism.

ICT Funding and cooperationICT Funding and cooperation

Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development

Research areas need Research areas need 1-Design and implementation of low cost 1-Design and implementation of low cost

computers and wireless connectivity as well computers and wireless connectivity as well as prepaid chip - card software for e- as prepaid chip - card software for e- commerce without credit cards.commerce without credit cards.

2-Low cost fuel cells on photo voltaic for 2-Low cost fuel cells on photo voltaic for decentralized electricity supply.decentralized electricity supply.

VISIT EGYPTs WEB SITE AT VISIT EGYPTs WEB SITE AT http://www.mcit.gov.eghttp://www.mcit.gov.eg You can find all the projects and the egyptian You can find all the projects and the egyptian

information society initiative “Building Digital information society initiative “Building Digital Bridges”Bridges”

Also visit the web site for all the Egyptian Also visit the web site for all the Egyptian companiesat companiesat http://citegypt.comhttp://citegypt.com

Visit the TELECOM AFRICA at Visit the TELECOM AFRICA at http://www.itu.int/itutelecomhttp://www.itu.int/itutelecom

For any enquiries contact me at For any enquiries contact me at

nhegazy@mcit.gov.egnhegazy@mcit.gov.eg